Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Introduction: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme which is found in the cytoplasm of almost all body tissues and its main purpose is to catalyze the oxidation of lactate to pyruvate. Lactate dehydrogenase is always confined within cell cytoplasm and becomes extracellular when a cell dies, however its extracellular presence is always related to cell necrosis and tissue breakdown. Aims and objective: To evaluate the serum LDH levels in patients with normal oral mucosa, oral leukoplakia and oral submucous fibrosis and to correlate the LDH levels in these cases. Materials and method: A study comprised of 10 cases of normal healthy individuals (Group 1), 10 cases of oral leukoplakia (Group 2) and 10 cases of oral submucous fibrosis (Group 3). Venous blood was collected from each of these evaluated for LDH levels using the standard kit method. Results: Mean LDH levels of oral leukoplakia subjects were significantly higher than OSMF group and normal healthy subjects. Conclusion: Serum LDH might be used as a biochemical marker, as it is simple and easily accepted by the patient. These findings can also be used as valuable aid in monitoring treatment outcomes in potentially malignant disorders. Key words: Lactate dehydrogenase, Serum, Oral potentially malignant disorders, Leukoplakia